A Festive Song with an Unclear Message: Uncovering the Meaning of Maoz Tzur
Yaakov Jaffe delves into two possible themes of the song Maoz Tzur.
Darkness We Have Come to Dispel: Between The Light of Hanukkah and the Black...
Mois Navon explores what makes Hanukkah so special.
Darkness Will Envelop Me: A Meditation on Hanukkah
Dr. Devora Steinmetz offers a meditation on the significance of Hanukkah and darkness.
Can You See the Light and the Darkness?
Zach Truboff draws upon the thought of Rav Kook and Rav Shagar to explore the themes of light and darkness and their application to Hanukkah.
You light candles
In his latest poem, Bruce Black meditates on the Chanukah miracle and the miracles of everyday life
From Burning Candles to ‘Burning’ People
In honor of Hanukkah, Admiel Kosman considers literary and aggadic traditions that depict holy people as burning flames or sources of light. He proposes that these traditions be read in light of Martin Buber’s insight regarding the dialogical personality.
Masculinity and the Hanukkah Hero: Toward a New Interpretation of Biblical Gevurah
The Maccabees were renowned as gibborim. But what exactly is gevurah, and what does it mean for dicussions about manhood and Zionism? Tzvi Sinensky uses Hanukkah as a starting point for this contemporary conversation.
Shnei Zeitim: A Hanukkah Piyyut About the Separation of Powers
Yitzhak Szyf explores the piyyut of Shnei Zeitim, a once well-known addition to the Shabbat Hanukkah services that subtly critiques the Hasmoneans for usurping the kingship while serving as priests.
Nine Crazy Nights?
Outside the Land of Israel, we add an extra day to several holidays. Michael Kurin wonders: why not on Hanukkah?
The Hasmoneans as a Paradigm for Modern Jewish Sovereignty
R. Shimshon Nadel explores the connection between the Hasmonean dynasty and the modern-day State of Israel.
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